Draft-equalizer.



No. 835,922. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906. G. SUNDHOLM:

DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1906.

3 vwentoz UNITED is ATEs PATENT OFFICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SUNDHOLM, a citizen of the United States, residing at A1- bert City, in the county of Buena Vista and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to draft-equalizers, and more particularly to that class adapted to be used in connection with devices where it becomes necessary to make the same interchangeable whereby the object being moved can be passed through a small opening.

The object of my invention is to so construct the equalizer that the parts thereof can be readily and quickly removed in order to change the equalizer from three horses to two, so that when a gate or door is encountered which is not of sufficient width to admit three horses at a time one of the horses can be removed and certain parts of the equalizer changed so thatthe same can be readily passed through said gate or door.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter'made clearly apparent in the specification and pointedout 1n the claims.

In the accom anyings drawin which are made a part oft -s application, I ave shown the preferred form of my" invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved equalizer as used when attached to a tongue. Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough as seen from line 2 2, Fig.

. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the parts df my improved equalizer.

Referring to the figures by numerals of ref-. erence, 1 indicates a tongue of any preferred form, said tongue preferably having a crossbar 2 at its rear nd and suitable brace-rods3 extending from t e outer ends of said crossbar into engagement with the tongue. Pivotally secured to the tongue 1 and extending laterally therefrom at one side thereof is a draft-bar 4, said draft-bar being preferably composed of metal and having its outer end curved and provided with a hooked member 5. Pivotally secured to the draft-bar 4 and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom is an auxiliary bar 6, to the free end of which is secured a doubletree 7, said doubletree being provided with a suitable retaining-oleViS 8, while the opposite ends of said Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1906. Serial No. 308.952.

Patented Nov. 13, 1 906.

"bar 7 are provided with swingletrees '9. The forward movement of the auxiliary bar 6 is limited by means of a controlling-chain 10, said chain being secured to the auxiliary bar 6 by means of a clevis 11 and the opposite end thereof to the cross-bar 2 by means of a clevis 12, said chain being preferably directed across the tongue, as best shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A bar 13 is pivotally secured in position by means of a in 14,- saidpin being directed through the raft-bar 4 and the bar 13, the inner end of the bar 13 being provided with a hooked member 15, said member being so arranged that it will take over the adjacent portion of the draft-bar 4 when said draft-bar 4 and bar 13 are parallel with each other, while at the same time the member 5 will engage the bar '13 at a point beyond the pivotal connection between said bars. The free end of the bar 13 is provided with a swingletree 16, said swingletree being clevis 17. This construction is adapted for use when three draftanimals are employed; but when it is desired to use only two draftanimals the pin 14 is withdrawn and the bar 13 carrying the swingletree 16 removed from the draft-bar 4, after which a 'chain 18, secured to the cross-bar 2, is placed inconnection with the hook 19, carried by the clevis 8, said chain' 18 being dis osed across the tongue 1 inopposition to t e chain 10, thereby equalizing the draft upon the tongue when but two horses are used to draw the load. In some instances the cross-bar 2 is dispensed with, and when such is the casethe controlling-chains 10 and 18 are secured directly to the tongue or an suitable-connection, it being understood t at said chains are on opposite sides of said ton e. It will readily be seen that by providing the hook members 5 and 15, one of which is adapted to pass below the bar 13 and the other above the bar 4, that a very rigid connection will be made between the two bars, so that there will be no undue strain upon the pivot-pin 14, and by having the pin 14 of the splitkey variety said attached and the bars 13 and 4 readily disconnected or un'ited.

Myimproved equalizer is designed more particularly to be used in connection with manure-Spreaders, and the object in constructing the removable parts of said equalizer is to enable the spreader to enter a door to the outer end of the draft-bar4 and held pin can be readily removed or.

secured to the bar by means of a suitable roof or gate which is not of sufficient width to allow the passage of three horses abreast, and, as before stated, when an o ening of this class is encountered one of the horses may be vunhitched and the bar 13 carrying. the swingletree l6 quickly removed so that the two remaining draft animals can be driven throughthe opening.

What I claim is I 1. In an equalizer of the class described, the combination with a tongue havin a cross-bar; of a draft-bar ivotally secure to said tongue, an auxiliaryiia'r secured thereto, a doubletree secured to the free end of said auxiliary bar, a clevis'uniting said auxiliary bar and doubletree, means interposed between'the auxiliary and cross bars to limit the movement of said auxiliary bar, a removable bar pivotally secured to the outer end of the draft-bar, means to secure said removable and draft bars to ether, and additional means to equalize the draft upon the doubletrees when the removable bar is disconnected. v

2. An equalizer of the class described comprising the combination with a tongue havmg a cross-bar; of a draft-bar pivotally secured at one end to the tongue, and having a hooked member at its opposite end, an auxiliary bar pivotally secured to the draft-bar,

a doubletree secured to said auxiliary bar, a

clevis secured to said auxiliary bar and doublet'ree, a hook carried by said clevis, a chain disposed between said cross-bar and the auxiliarytbar, a removable bar pivoted to the draft-bar near'its outer end, said removable bar having a hook member at its inner end adapted to engage the draft-bar, and a chain.

secured to said cross-bar, the free end of whichis adapted to engage the hook upon the clevis, and equalize the draft upon the doubletree when desired.

3. In a draft-e ualizer,l the combination with a tongue having a cross-bar; of a draft bar pivoted thereto, a removable bar pivotally secured to said draft-bar, an auxiliary bar secured to said draft-bar, a doubletree secured to said auxiliary bar, a clevis uniting said auxiliary bar and doubletree, a hook carried by said clevis,'a chain disposed between the cross-bar and auxiliary bar, and.

an additional chain secured to said cross-bar and into engagement with the hook upon said clevis, said chains being disposed across the tongue in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of I two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE SUNDHOLM. Witnesses:

J. A. DYGERT, H. L. ANDERSON. 

